We are fortunate to be part of a great school community at Wallingford School. As with any great community, it has some things about it which are distinctive and unique and one of those things has been taking place this week with the annual study week for our Year 13 students in the Lake District on the banks of Lake Windermere.

Having returned last year following a two-year absence due to the pandemic, “the Lakes”, as it is known, is a very special week in which students revise hard, relax a bit and have a shared experience which focuses them individually on their upcoming exams but also emphasises that they are all in it together and that our staff are there to support them every step of the way.

A member of staff who spent the start of the week in the Lakes told me how impressed he was that the students were straight down to revision an hour after getting off the coach on Sunday. This happens because they have good private study habits and high aspirations, are mature and focused and want to give the very best account of themselves in the summer. As with every year group which makes the trip, we are very proud of them indeed. We would also like to express our considerable gratitude for the support of the Walter Bigg Foundation for enabling this visit to happen each year.